Chapter 24

Kate stared out the window from her place in the backseat of Sargent Renzulli's squad car. Jaime had been called over to deal with the unregistered guns on the scene and had reluctantly let Kate go. Kate had tried not to let Jaime see the relief on her face when she didn't have to go with him.

Carlos leaned toward the front seat. "You have my phone?" he asked.

Anthony reached onto the passenger seat and handed the bag with everything they had taken from Carlos' pockets after cuffing him. The phone caught her attention.

"I'm calling to check on them now," Carlos told her.

Kate nodded. She kept her eyes on Carlos, watching for any sign that something had gone wrong with Lacey and Frannie.

"You got them?" Carlos asked when Joe answered. Carlos moved the phone from his mouth and spoke to Kate. "They're with Joe. They're both safe."

Kate saw Anthony's eyes flick back towards her in the rearview mirror, but ignored him.

She tried to hear anything else Joe was saying to Carlos. Carlos' answers were minimal.

When he hung up, Kate didn't hesitate. "Is he bringing them to your apartment?" she asked. She needed to see Frannie, to hold her, to see for herself that she was ok.

"Change of plans," Carlos said. Seeing Kate's expression, he reached out and lightly brushed her hand. "Everything's ok. We just have to move you somewhere else. Joe thinks Johnny put eyes on your apartment."

"But, Frannie—"

"Is fine. She's fine," he reiterated when Kate's voice shook. "Joe's losing Johnny's guy, the uniforms are going to stop them for a traffic violation. But we can't risk bringing them to my apartment until patrol gets them." He looked up to the front seat.

Anthony met his son's eyes in the mirror. "Spare bedroom's ready," he said.

Kate barely heard their plans. She just needed to get Frannie. To check with Lacey. To see them both for herself.

She hadn't realized what Carlos and his dad had agreed to until the car pulled up in front of Carlos' parents' home.

Anthony opened the back door for them. Kate followed Carlos out. She barely registered the house she had been to once before. She was looking down the street for Joe's car.

"Let's get inside," Carlos said with a look around the quiet street. He put a hand on Kate's back and guided her inside.

When they went through the front door, a voice called from upstairs. "Anthony? Is that you?"

Carlos' dad called back that he was there with Carlos. "And a friend," he added.

Carlos' mom came to the top of the stairs, tying the belt of her robe. Surprise lifted her brows, but she recovered quickly, coming down the stairs.

"Kate and I are going to crash here tonight," Carlos said. "You remember Kate?"

Rose Renzulli blinked quickly at the news, but then offered Kate a small smile. She looked toward her husband.

"Things got a little messy with Carlos' assignment," he said.

Rose looked at Carlos in alarm.

"It's fine, Ma," Carlos assured her.

She didn't look convinced, but she was clearly trying to rally. Kate had to give her credit for that.

Rose strove for a normal tone. "Are you hungry? I'll heat up some leftovers."

"We're waiting for—"

Carlos was cut off by the knock at the door. Kate didn't wait for Carlos, she rushed toward the door as Joe opened it and ushered in Lacey with Frannie in her arms.

"Are you ok?" Lacey asked as soon as she saw Kate. Her face was pale, strain in every line.

Kate nodded, suddenly not able to find her voice. Frannie leaned over from Lacey's arms with a small cry, holding her arms out toward Kate.

Kate took her daughter, relishing the feel of her weight in her arms. She held Frannie tighter than she knew she really needed to, Frannie burrowing her face into Kate's shoulder. Kate pressed her face against the dark wisps of Frannie's hair, inhaling the scent of baby shampoo, letting the loose curls tickle her nose.

It was all ok now. Frannie was safe. She had her daughter.

#

Carlos watched Kate grip her daughter, the fear of the evening finally showing on her face before she turned her head and pressed her face into Frannie's head.

Joe was standing protectively close to Lacey. He met Carlos' eyes. "We lost the tail the crew tried to put on Lacey. They got picked up by the uniforms. I'm going to take her over to my place. Split them up so they aren't so easy to find."

Carlos nodded. It was a good plan.

Lacey looked nervous, but she glanced at Joe and nodded.

"Keep in touch," Joe said before heading out the door with Lacey.

Carlos ran a hand over his hair. He needed to figure out what Johnny's next move was going to be. And how Wes would retaliate. But first he needed keep Kate and her daughter safe for the night.

"Who's this?" Carlos' mom asked tentatively.

He saw Kate tense slightly before she lifted her face from Frannie.

"This is Frannie," Carlos said, not able to hold back a slight smile seeing Frannie lift her head at the sound of his voice. "Kate's daughter."

His mom managed a small smile for Kate. It was slightly more relaxed when Frannie turned dark eyes toward Rose.

"Is she hungry?" Rose asked. "I have yogurt or whatever you think she'd like."

Kate shook her head. "She was probably woken up to come over here. Thanks though," she managed belatedly. She looked to Carlos.

"Come on," he said. "I'll show you where she can sleep." He grabbed the diaper bag Joe had left by the door.

He didn't miss the concerned look his parents exchanged as he led Kate up the stairs.

In the spare room, Carlos made sure the shades were down before he flicked on the lamp on the nightstand. He went to the closet and pulled out the pack and play his mom kept for his nieces and nephews when they visited.

Kate stood in the doorway, holding Frannie and swaying side to side gently while Carlos set up the playpen. Carlos was struck again by how tender she was with her daughter, how all her stone walls fell down and she gave everything she was to Frannie.

Carlos stepped back, giving Kate room. She looked down at Frannie's face, a slight smile pulling at her lips in spite of the tension that was still there. She pressed a soft kiss to Frannie's forehead and lowered her into the bed. She stayed there, looking down at Frannie's sleeping form.

"Tonight…" Kate said. She pressed her lips together and kept her eyes fixed on Frannie. "I can't keep doing this. Living like this."

Her confession was so low Carlos almost didn't hear it. She didn't look at him, but he saw her fingers reach over and trace over the roman numerals on her left wrist absently.

"What do you want to do?" Carlos asked. He already knew he would do whatever it took to get her and her baby to safety.

Kate was silent. When she looked back at Carlos, her face was set. "Nothing." Her eyes were unreadable, her expression walled off. "There isn't anything I can do."

Carlos shook his head, taking a step toward Kate. "I can help you. Whatever you need."

"I need to go to bed," she said, closing the door on saying anything more, her moment of weakness covered.

Everything in Carlos wanted to argue with her, but he didn't. Not now. Not when she looked exhausted. Not after whatever she had been through with Johnny and Wes that night.

"Get some sleep," he said. "I'll be downstairs if you need anything.

Kate nodded. She followed him to the door of the spare bedroom. One hand on the door as he walked through. "Carlos," she said.

He turned. She was right there, looking up at him. Carlos didn't move. For a second he thought she was going to move closer to him.

"Thanks," she said instead. She pulled back and closed the door quietly.

"Anytime," Carlos said in the empty hallway.

#

Joe pulled out his key to his apartment. Lacey was by his side, her slight frame nearly radiating tension.

He let her in, locking the door behind them. He flicked on lights. "Do you need anything right now?"

She shook her head, arms crossed protectively in front of her.

"Ok." Joe moved toward the bedroom. "I only have the one room. I'll stay out here.

"Could—" Lacey started, then stopped. Her green eyes flicked up towards him briefly. She bit her lip briefly, then tried again. "Could I sit out here with you?" she asked quietly. "I don't want to be alone."

"Yeah," Joe said. "Yeah, of course." He went to the couch, picked up the newspaper he had left there and set it aside. "Do you want a blanket? I'll get a pillow."

But Lacey shook her head. "Would you just stay with me?" she asked on a whisper.

Joe nodded. He waited until Lacey sat on the couch, curling her feet under her. Joe gave her space, taking a seat on the other end of the couch. He leaned back, propping his feet against the coffee table.

"Wes…" Lacey started. She gave Joe another quick look before training her eyes down on her hands. "He's how I got tangled up in all this."

Her words were whispered. Joe shifted slightly, angling toward her, wanting her to know he was listening.

"He's not like Johnny. Johnny charmed Kate into things until it was too late for her to get out. But I knew what I was getting into." The guilt that pulled at her pretty face made Joe want to go find Wes right then. "I figured it was better than things at home. At least Wes wanted me." She closed her eyes. "Until he didn't." Then she opened her eyes and looked at Joe. "But I don't regret it."

He felt his own eyes widen in surprise at her confession. "You don't?" he asked.

She shook her head slightly. "Kate would have been all on her own with Johnny…and Wes. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. And there's Frannie," she said, a small curve of her lips telling of how much she loved the little girl. "They're the first real family I've ever had."

Joe wanted to tell her she didn't need to stay on the fringes of Wes and Johnny's crew. That she could get out. But he bit his tongue. He wasn't going to push when she was willing to open up to him.

"I just…" She took a shaky breath and risked another look toward him. "I just wanted you to know why I'm there."

He thought of how she looked out for Kate, how her kindness showed through her shyness. He knew why she was there.

She bit her lip. She glanced at him. Joe moved a hand closer to her, but didn't quite touch her arm, not wanting to scare her. He just wanted her to know she could trust him with what she had told him.

#